Death Cloud

The following morning at breakfast, Uncle Sherrinford talks about the dead man, who was a gardener on the estate. He speculates that the cause of death was bubonic plague and fears that rumors may spread throughout the community and cause panic. Aunt Anna contributes an important fact to Sherlock’s investigation when she mentions that the dead gardener previously worked in a clothing factory for a Baron Maupertuis. Sherlock concludes that this is the baron who is behind the deaths and that he owns a factory that makes garments.

When Sherlock leaves the house, he sees a figure on horseback watching him from a distance. The person departs before he can get a closer look. Then, he finds Matty waiting for him with two bicycles that he “found.” As they ride, Sherlock tells Matty everything that happened the previous day. Then, he proposes to alert the police but thinks better of the plan because “two dead bodies, a strange cloud of death, a mysterious yellow powder, and a group of thugs setting fire to a warehouse—it was too much like a child’s fantasy game” (103).

Not knowing what else to do, Sherlock suggests that the boys should talk the matter over with Crowe. Matty happens to know which house in town Crowe is renting and leads Sherlock there. He stays outside while Sherlock knocks on the door. The boy is greeted by Crowe’s forthright, attractive daughter, Virginia. She is about 14, with red hair and violet eyes that captivate Sherlock. He learns that the girl’s mother died during the crossing to England, which is one reason why Virginia hates Britain. She rides her horse astride rather than sidesaddle and is the person that Sherlock saw watching him earlier. As she leaves to go for another ride, Crowe arrives home.

Sherlock tells his tutor everything that’s happened during the past day, but Crowe doesn’t have enough facts to reach any conclusions yet. He also warns Sherlock that this isn’t his battle to fight. Later, Sherlock considers other options rather than giving up. He remembers Crowe’s friend in Guildford is an expert on tropical diseases and resolves to show him the yellow powder that he found.

The next day, Sherlock finds Matty in the marketplace and persuades him to go to Guildford to consult the expert. This would be a two-hour bicycle ride, but Matty proposes traveling in his boat on the River Wey. The trip will take just as long by water but will require less effort if his horse pulls the boat. The boys decide to leave before dawn the next morning. Sherlock will slip out and leave a note saying that he’s gone out for the day with his tutor.

While the sky is still dark the following morning, Sherlock leaves undetected and meets Matty by the river. His horse is tied to the front of a long, narrow craft, and Matty uses a boathook to guide the small vessel while his horse pulls it forward. As they get underway, Matty says that he made inquiries about the first victim. He was a tailor who was making army uniforms and was employed at the warehouse that burned down.

As the boat approaches a bridge, the boys notice someone standing on it, carrying a lantern. By its light, Sherlock recognizes one of the men from the warehouse, whose name is Clem. He tosses the lantern onto the boat, setting the little craft on fire. Sherlock uses a wet blanket to douse the flames, but Clem throws another lantern. Then, he jumps down onto the deck, a knife in hand. Apparently, Sherlock’s trip to the warehouse did not go undetected. Sherlock struggles with Clem before the latter can knife him, but Matty comes up from behind and uses his boathook to crack Clem’s skull. The latter dies and falls into the river.

As the sun rises, the boys recover and continue their journey. Matty doesn’t know why Clem attacked until Sherlock explains that he was the intended target. Once they enter Guildford, Matty secures the boat and horse to a wharf, and the boys seek out Professor Winchcombe. Matty chooses to stay outside while Sherlock confers with the expert. The professor examines the yellow dust under a microscope and says that it is bee pollen. He concludes that the red boils on the victims’ faces were multiple bee stings. Winchcombe talks about aggressive species of bees unknown in Europe that could inflict such harm, comparing their swarming motion to a cloud of smoke.

Sherlock remembers the black cloud around the second victim and speculates that these were small black bees resembling a cloud of smoke from a distance. The professor says, “I believe there are African bees that are small and virtually black. They too are very aggressive” (146). Sherlock asks the professor to write a short letter to Crowe explaining his theory. On the way back downriver, the boys meet up with Virginia, who is out riding. She promises to give Winchcombe’s letter to her father immediately and canters off.